Trying to steal something from that teahouse, not to mention Li Xiaoming, a bookkeeper without an ounce of martial prowess, even a dexterous warrior might not be able to get away unscathed.
Bai Sheng thought that finding a bookkeeper and presenting the account books would be irrefutable evidence. Little did she know that precisely because these hard - to - obtain pieces of evidence were so complete, contradictions emerged instead.
Zhuo Lingxiao frowned and chimed in, "Your Highness is wrong. As the saying goes, no matter how meticulous one is, there must be oversights, especially in such a large teahouse. And this bookkeeper is one of your own people. Even if the secret guards saw him go in to get an account book, they would just think it was natural and not stop him.
Besides, why are we discussing how he obtained the evidence? As long as these pieces of evidence can prove that you have colluded with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, isn't that enough?"
"If the source of the evidence is in question, how can it prove that this marquis has colluded with the Crown Prince?" Feng Linyuan retorted with a faint smile.
The look in his eyes as he regarded Zhuo Lingxiao was as if he were looking at a fool, as if the latter had said something extremely stupid.
Zhuo Lingxiao caught his breath, and then his anger flared up.
Concubine Yi also regained her composure. Hearing this, she sneered, "Your Highness the Marquis and your lady are really good at arguing. You can turn black into white. The Dingyuan Marquis Mansion is truly capable. No wonder the Crown Prince would seek your help!
The evidence is clearly laid out here, and you still have the audacity to claim that there's a problem with the source of the evidence?"
Li Xiaoming shouted hoarsely, "Your Majesty! Every word I've said is true. I'm willing to stake my life on it!"
He was a shrewd man. He knew that with Bai Zheng and Feng Linyuan's words just now, they had successfully turned the situation around.
If today's plan failed, he would be firmly convicted of perjury.
Daring to slander the Dingyuan Marquis and the Crown Prince, as a mere commoner, he would lose his head even if he had ten of them!
Thinking of this, Li Xiaoming kowtowed repeatedly and cried. His pathetic voice seemed to be a genuine outpouring of emotion. He continued to plead to Feng Linche,
"I... I really couldn't bear to see His Highness the Third Prince suffer such a misfortune, so I mustered the courage to betray Your Highness the Marquis and your lady. Although Your Highness and your lady have been extremely kind to me, I still have a conscience! I couldn't turn a blind eye to their crimes and let the real culprit go unpunished!
But the day before, His Highness the Marquis discovered that the account book was missing and sent people to hunt me down. Before I could reach the Third Prince's Mansion to see His Highness the Third Prince, I fainted on the way. Fortunately, Miss Bai passed by and saved my life.
When I woke up, the Third Prince's Mansion was already ablaze..."
Li Xiaoming's words were so sincere that at the end, he even managed to shed a few crocodile tears.
Bai Zheng secretly sighed. She never knew this guy had such acting skills. If she had known, she should have let him go with Zhuling to sell desserts at the front in the first place.
Now he was acting so convincingly that it was hard not to believe him.
Bai Sheng's eyes were also red. She bowed to Princess Yunxi and Concubine Yi and choked, "Actually, when Li Xiaoming was in a coma, he kept repeating, 'Your Highness the Third Prince... Don't harm Your Highness the Third Prince.'
He was so delirious that I couldn't hear clearly. I thought I had misheard. It wasn't until I saw Zheng'er leave that day and the princes weren't at the table that I got suspicious. So I followed Zheng'er all the way and discovered her arson and murder...
Princess Yunxi, Concubine Yi! I'm sorry. It's all my fault. If only I could have heard what he said clearly... If only I could have stopped Zheng'er..."
By this time, Bai Sheng was sobbing uncontrollably.
Zhuo Yi stepped forward and comforted her, "Miss Bai, don't blame yourself. You're not to blame for this. It's hard to fathom people's hearts. Who could have known that His Highness the Marquis and your lady would talk about benevolence and morality on the surface but be so vicious behind their backs?"
Feng Linche frowned and said nothing. He just stared coldly at Feng Linyuan and Bai Zheng, the only calm ones in the room.
Their words just now seemed to explain clearly the source of the evidence and how Bai Sheng had so coincidentally discovered Bai Zheng's arson. But in Feng Linche's eyes, everything seemed even more suspicious.
Not to mention that Feng Jingye and Feng Linyuan had always been at odds. Just talking about Feng Jingye, his personality was always mediocre. If he had the heart and determination to kill his own younger brother, he wouldn't have been such a useless Crown Prince all these years.
Feng Linche lowered his eyes, hiding the coldness in them.
But today's incident was obviously a plot by the people of Xiliang against the Great Zhou. They had been well - prepared and had set up a masterful scheme, just waiting for Feng Jingye to fall into it.
Moreover, the so - called human and physical evidence were all complete. With Concubine Yi and Princess Yunxi adding fuel to the fire, Xiliang was standing on the moral high ground and constantly pressuring him. Even as the emperor, he was helpless.
Thinking of this, Feng Linche sighed.
At present, the Great Zhou didn't have a single capable general. If the two countries really clashed... How could the Great Zhou withstand the troops of Xiliang?
How could Zhuo Yi, that old fox, not know what Feng Linche was thinking? A confident and proud glint flashed in his eyes as he said,
"Your Majesty, Miss Bai has already explained the whole process. If His Highness the Marquis still wants to quibble about the source of the evidence, then investigate.
Check if the account books are real. Check if Li Xiaoming is really the bookkeeper in the shop of the Lady Marquis. Check if he was hunted down a few days ago and saved by Miss Bai.
But this king thinks it's unnecessary to waste such effort. Just now, the Lady Marquis clearly admitted it.
Now, our son - in - law of Xiliang has died so unjustly, but the murderer is here blatantly distorting the facts. This king really can't stand such absurdity.
If Your Majesty can't bring himself to punish the real culprit and be the bad guy, then let this king of Xiliang do it! Xiliang still has people to stand up for Princess Yunxi!"
Zhuo Yi spoke slowly, and every word was an undisguised threat.
Hearing this, Feng Linche still seemed calm on the surface, but the veins popping out on his forehead betrayed his humiliation and anger.
He knew very well why Zhuo Yi was constantly forcing him to make a decision.
The crown prince was the foundation of the country. Once Feng Jingye was removed from his position, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Once the Great Zhou started to fight among themselves, Xiliang would take the opportunity to benefit.
They had a good plan!
He gritted his teeth tightly to suppress the killing intent that was about to burst out of his chest. He half - squinted his eyes, as if pressing Zhuo Yi in front of him into his pupils and tearing him apart.
But his words were still calm, "Your Highness, don't be impatient."
Saying this, he turned his head and looked at Feng Linyuan and his wife with a gloomy gaze.